In 2013, one of the most creative and conceptual national ceramics brands was founded, LABORATÓRIO D’ESTÓRIAS. Rute and Sérgio had the purpose of telling the story of a different Portugal. Popular Portuguese culture and ancient ceramics techniques are their inspiration and the starting point for a new story. Yet all their creations have a special character, that goes beyond decorative utility or function, every story is told through illustrations and an always original and unique tale.

One of our election pieces is “Martinho e as Estrelas”. A piece with a simple design, inspired by the chestnut fruit’s outer shell, and inspired by the 70’s aesthetic, with an extremely textured appearance, almost “brutalist”, that contrasts with its delicate execution. A bowl that is a tale of a fruit and its shell, and of Martinho who became a saint. A saint celebrated in November with chestnuts and jeropiga.

"(...) Martinho used half of his cape as a catapult, launching all the chestnut shells into the sky: but like a miracle, none of them fell, instead they got stuck in the sky as if they were Velcro, transforming into little stars. And so, the clouds dissipated and the autumn night gave place to a beautiful sunny morning. Since then, the legend says that every year in November there is the S. Martinho summer; but what most people don’t know is that the sun heated the chestnut shell so much that roasted chestnuts rained from the sky, as well as a piece of chestnut shell star that Martinho kept as a souvenir.”